Jakarta, ThedailyID — People with blood type B may face a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a systematic review published in BMC Medicine in 2024.
The review found that people with blood type B had a 28 percent higher risk than people with other blood types. However, researchers stressed that the finding shows a correlation, not proof that blood type causes diabetes.
Study leader Fang-Hua Liu, an epidemiologist at China Medical University, said previous studies had explored links between blood types and various diseases. However, researchers still debate the strength of these associations.
Liu and her team reviewed 51 meta-analyses covering 270 reported associations between blood types and diseases. They reassessed the findings using statistical tests and evaluated the strength of the evidence, including signs of potential bias.
“We recalculated each association and found evidence for only one link, between blood type B and diabetes,” Liu said, according to ScienceDirect.
The researchers found that only one report linking blood type B to type 2 diabetes met their scientific standards. That finding formed the basis for the reported 28 percent increase in risk.
However, blood type is only one possible indicator. The researchers did not examine which factors might explain or increase the reported risk.
Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body cannot properly regulate blood sugar. Several factors can contribute to the condition, including diets high in sugar or carbohydrates and a lack of physical activity.
The findings do not mean that everyone with blood type B will develop diabetes. Blood type alone cannot accurately determine an individual’s risk.
People should instead pay attention to established risk factors and maintain healthy habits. The study highlights a possible association, but further research would help clarify its significance.
